Comments on: Royals set lineup has a disastrous debuthttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/
Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball.Sun, 02 Aug 2015 21:12:08 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.com/By: Markhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-467972
Thu, 04 Apr 2013 03:19:28 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-467972“You had me until you said that there are other players with a higher ceiling than Moustakas. I don’t believe there is anyone on the Royals with a higher ceiling than Moustakas.”

Well that’s wonderful you think so. You must be the only one.

” Batting him fourth might not be the ideal place to spot him against a lefty (again, not arguing for the set lineup or Moustakas’s place in it, or the Royals making smart decisions) but there isn’t anyone on the Royals who profiles as a better hitter. ”

There are several that are better vs LHP. One of them is Jeff Franceour.

“One way to get better at something is to do it more often so maybe having Moustakas face lefties is the Royals way of doing that.”

That makes for a nice sound bite, but unfortunately it’s not always true.

]]>By: mattymatty2000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-467750
Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:41:12 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-467750You had me until you said that there are other players with a higher ceiling than Moustakas. I don’t believe there is anyone on the Royals with a higher ceiling than Moustakas. Batting him fourth might not be the ideal place to spot him against a lefty (again, not arguing for the set lineup or Moustakas’s place in it, or the Royals making smart decisions) but there isn’t anyone on the Royals who profiles as a better hitter. At least that’s my understanding. One way to get better at something is to do it more often so maybe having Moustakas face lefties is the Royals way of doing that.
]]>By: vols84http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-467397
Wed, 03 Apr 2013 03:12:03 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-467397Yost is too loyal to Chris Getz and Franceour. These guys don’t belong as everyday starters. In the end, it will cost “Frank” Yost his job by All Star break. Yeah, I said Frank. Look it up. Ned is a nut.
]]>By: Cris Ehttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-467034
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:51:48 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-467034Watch!
We downgraded
Manager Host
when he was in Milwaukee..
Although we did
not project to
GM’s that
this team would make
the playoffs regret they will be
knocking on post
season door…
]]>By: Cris Ehttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-467029
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 17:48:15 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-467029If you want to bring him along then you kind of want to consider keeping him out of situations where he just hasn’t figured it out yet. And we’re not talking about Brian Duensing here, but an actual good LH pitcher in Sale.

A grown-up manager has to have ways to tell one guy “You’re important” and turn to the rest of the clubhouse and say “Frenchie is on this roster to hit lefties” at the same time. That’s Ned’s job. If young Moustakas has trouble hearing that he’s not ready yet.

]]>By: randall351http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466793
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:16:13 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466793What’s even stranger, is the fact that the past couple of years he’s been changing the line up almost every day. I can remember last year when basically everyone moved around except for Francouer who was cemented into the 5th spot even in the midst of a historically bad year; which became part of a running joke on local sports radio.
So this set line up crap must be some sort of new thing he read about in a book on baseball or something, because it is the opposite of what he’s done the past two seasons.
]]>By: Gamera the Bravehttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466725
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:24:34 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466725Wait, what?
]]>By: sportsdrenchedhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466701
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:05:34 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466701Except the attitude of the front office indicates that the time for “growing” is over, even though their strategy hinges on Moustakas/Hosmer/Perez having break out years.

It’s just another indication that Yost..and the front office either has no desire to, or doesn’t know how to come into the 21st Century in terms of strategy/player evaluation….and their record on the field bears that out.

]]>By: stex52http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466651
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:27:32 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466651Craig says “Thank you”, philiac. Actually, me too.
]]>By: Markhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466604
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:21:32 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466604It’s not JUST about Moustakas though. Mind you, Moustakas has a career 229/279/344 line vs LHP, so he’s not exactly the guy you want hitting fourth vs LHP. The Royals can both give him key at bats to prepare him for the future and not bat him fourth vs lefties, where he’s been overwhelmed against his entire career. That’s not helping him or the team.

As Matthew pointed out Francoeur hitting 8th vs LHP is a bit of a joke, when one of the few things he actually does well is hit LHP. So failing to move him up is a poor move.

If the idea was simply to give the young players more at bats, you’d think Hosmer would be batting higher than 6th. Not only is he younger than Moose, and has a more proven MLB track record, but he was a better hitter in the minor leagues.

It’s a questionable lineup that really can’t be defended against and it’s not a surprise that it cost them the game. Yost is an awful manager, and the prospect/youth status for Moustakas is not a legitimate reason to bat him fourth when there are other young players with a higher ceiling and better track record who deserve a shot to bat in front of him. Hell, there were better veteran players who could actually hit lefties who could have moved up in the lineup.

The idea of set roles/lineup spots is just poor managing, and Yost showed why he doesn’t deserve to be a MLB manager.

Moustakas is a young prospect who hasn’t produced much yet from either side of the plate. He is batting cleanup because of his potential, not his track record. He was quite productive against lefties in the minors and has never had a huge platoon split. If he lives up to his potential, he will likely beat Francoeur’s numbers against lefties.

I agree that a set lineup is silly, but giving Moustakas an opportunity to succeed as the full-time cleanup hitter is eminently defensible.

]]>By: blingsladehttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466563
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:29:40 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466563The real problem with the Royals is they can’t score runs. Couldn’t last year and they’ve got the same lineup this year. They don’t have any real stars, thus they lose 90 games again this year..A G A I N ! ! !
]]>By: kiwicrickethttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466559
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:23:25 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466559Unless someone loses an eyeball or has their arm fall off due to being in the wrong position, I loathe to read a lineup order is ‘disastrous’ after the first game of the season. No, I don’t agree with what the Royals did, but the headline is a bit OTT.
Pouliot is trawling for hits after the first game of the season. Sigh.
]]>By: blacksableshttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466558
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:15:49 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466558The Reds, Marlins, and A’s all had worse days at the plate than the Royals.yet don’t get the same treatment.

What’s wrong, did the Cardinals stay up past your bedtime and you had to pick on the Royals instead?

]]>By: historiophiliachttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466545
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:16:24 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466545trolling Phillies fans?
]]>By: livepredictorhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466541
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:10:50 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466541We downgraded Manager Host when he was in Milwaukee..Although we did not project to GM’s that this team would make the playoffs they will be knocking on post season door…Watch!
]]>By: tfbuckfutterhttp://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466539
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:06:41 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466539Pointing out the things the Royals are doing wrong is like…..

Hmm….I can’t actually think of a thing that is as easy or easier than that for comparison….

]]>By: mattymatty2000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466538
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:06:28 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466538It also depends a bit on the Royals goals. Considering Moustakas is maybe the most important player on the Royals, getting him at-bats in crucial situations isn’t a bad idea. Not saying a ‘set lineup’ is a good strategy (I don’t think it is) but if Moustakas fails then the Royals likely fail. Showing some faith in the young guy isn’t a bad idea because he had a bad day at the plate in the first game of the season.
]]>By: js20011041http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/01/royals-set-lineup-has-a-disastrous-debut/comment-page-1/#comment-466535
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 03:52:03 +0000http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=374232#comment-466535“That’s not a part of Yost’s strategy.”

You’re assuming Yost has a strategy. Or that he even knows what a strategy is. I will never understand this nonsense about how players need to know their roles. Whether it’s how relievers are used or how a manager fills out his lineup card. There are very few things in baseball in that a manager has control over, but those are two of the more important ones. The fact that most managers are perfectly content to go with this “strategy” of using a set lineup, regardless of platoon splits, and defined roles for the bullpen is baffling. There is no matching up late in games anymore. Managers don’t pitch hit and for the most part, they don’t take platoon splits into account when making pitching changes. They put in their 7th inning guy or their 8th inning guy. It takes zero brains and zero balls to execute this kind of managing.